Study abroad opportunities for SSEES Students

Introduction
Why study abroad?
Where do SSEES students spend their year abroad?
Where can I find out more?

Introduction

All of our undergraduate programme areas (Economics and Business, History, Languages and Culture, Politics and Sociology) now offer exciting, year long, opportunities for students to study abroad in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. At Masters level, our path-breaking joint International Masters in Economy, State and Society (www.imess.eu) involves a year of study at one of our seven partner universities. Our graduate research students frequently undertake extended periods of fieldwork across the SSEES region and often participate in Erasmus exchanges with our European Union partners in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

SSEES's Russian Studies students, taking Russian ab initio, complete their first year of study with a specially organised compulsory course in Kazan, Russia, which runs for four weeks at the end of the summer term. This course offers the perfect way to round off the first year of the undergraduate degree by giving students the chance to put what they have learnt into practice and to experience Russian life at first hand.

SSEES Year Abroad Handbook

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Why study abroad?

Students choosing to spend a 'life-changing' year abroad benefit in numerous ways, academically, personally and professionally.

Share the experiences of a current UCL student through her blog

A year abroad is almost certainly beneficial to career prospects. Experiencing different systems of education, countries and cultures sparks a passion for understanding other people and their perspectives. Recruiters place great value on these characteristics as they actively seek adaptable, flexible, courageous and ambitious graduates with a proven capacity for communication across cultural (and often) linguistic boundaries. Students that have experienced a year studying abroad will have developed these skills and will be strongly placed to demonstrate this to potential employers. Research shows that the characteristics most valued by recruiters are more developed in students that have challenged themselves by spending a year abroad. International education and experience is sought after and recruiters in the public and private sector increasingly demand graduates equipped to think and operate on a global basis.

Away from the labour market, a year abroad will also put you ahead when applying for graduate studies. Graduate schools at the leading universities recognise the greater academic maturity and commitment that year abroad students typically acquire. Year abroad students themselves comment on the rewards that accrue from gaining access to courses, lecturers and academic practices that differ from those in their home institution.

Last but not least, a year studying abroad brings with it personal and cultural enrichment. Year abroad students forge enduring friendships with students from around the globe, learn to engage in and value dialogue with people from different cultures and systems and with diverse points of view and develop a deeper understanding of their own cultural influences.

In short, the multitude of personal, social, academic, professional and cultural benefits that accrues to students spending a year abroad makes it essential for all students to give serious consideration to the prospect. It is too good an opportunity to pass by!

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Where do SSEES students spend their year abroad?

SSEES students can spend their year abroad at countries from across the Central and Eastern European region. The most popular destinations in recent years include Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Poland. There are other exciting possibilities at universities of excellence in Estonia, Finland, Germany, Romania, Ukraine and Serbia and we hope to add to that list over time.

Students studying at one of our EU partner universities benefit from the European Union Erasmus scheme which offers some funding towards the year abroad costs. SSEES has Erasmus supported exchange arrangements with: Charles University in Prague; Masaryk University in Brno; Tartu University in Estonia; Helsinki University in Finland; European University Viadrina in Germany; Corvinus University in Budapest; Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, University of Warsaw in Poland, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Komenskeho University in Bratislava, Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and the University of Zagreb.

Outside of the EU we have arrangements and options with: State University Higher School of Economics (Moscow); European University at St Petersburg; National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kiev), Belgrade University and for our Russian language students we draw on the varied options and expertise of Russian Language Undergraduate Studies Ltd.

SSEES Year Abroad Handbook

Information on partner universities

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Where can I find out more?

• The year abroad options are summarised (for students going abroad in 2011-12) in the SSEES Year Abroad Handbook.
• UCL supports year abroad students through its International Office
• Our strongest institutional bonds have developed with our IMESS partners, to whom we send undergraduate, masters and doctoral students.
• Our Russian language student options are provided through RLUS.
• Information on our partner universities and towns can be found here: http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/studyabroadpartners.htm.

If after reading this information you have further questions then please do write to the SSEES International Tutor.

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This page last modified Wednesday 2 November 2011.